Harry Bramer, cabinet member for Contracts and Assets, said: "The council is committed to its duty of care to the local community and to tenants. As we find alternative ways to fund the statutory services we have to provide, we need to prioritise which activities the council can support.

"The smallholdings disposal plan will help us ensure best value for money for taxpayers."

The Conservative-run council, which is keeping seven small holdings, offered tenants financial help to get advice on buying their farms.

But Mr Clayton, who said his farmland may be worth £1m, was among those who said they could not afford to do so.

He said his future depended on who bought the land.

"We'll have to have a farm sale if they've sold to someone else that wants to farm," he said.

The council said the sale involved 32 tenancies but 20 were being sold with sitting tenants so would "remain unaffected". A spokeswoman added the land was being sold on the open market so it was possible some could be sold to developers, depending on planning restrictions.